Lifting jack support



April 30, 1957 J. F. PALKA- LIFTING JACK SUPPORT Filed April 20, 1953 Jasefzf IN V EN TOR.

2,790,615 LIFTING JACK sUPPonr Joseph F. Palka, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 20, 1953, Serial No. 349,715

7 Claims. (Cl. 248-166) This is a 'continuation-in-part of the application filed July 31, 1952, Serial No. 301,900, now Patent No. 2,719,696, granted October 4, 1955.

The present invention relates to lifting jacks and has for its main object the provision of a suitable fold'able support upon which the lifting mechanism maybe supported when the support is brought to an open position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a support co-acting with a lifting mechanism head including a pair of plates, wherein there is a stationary leg clamped by one of its ends between said plates, with one or more braces in a pivotal relation with one or more swivel members supported upon said stationary leg, and with one or morestaudards in a pivotal relation with said plates and one or more of said braces, and wherein said swivel member or 'membersmay longitudinally shift upon said stationary leg'for bringing the brace and braces and the 'cO-acting standard or standards -towards said stationary leg for folding the support in a compact bundle.

Another object'of the present invention,'and asa modification of the structural elements above mentioned is the provision of a brace or braces formed out of a pair of hinged sections, wtih the swivel member or members immovable lengthwise of the stationary leg, so that said brace or braces may fold upon the hinge or hinges in order to fold the support.

With the above general objects in 'view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying'drawing and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing forming a part of this'application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the support in an open set position while supporting a lifting jack -head within which a lifting mechauism'is positioned;

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken substantially'atQOdegrees from'that of the view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is atop elevation-a1 view of the support;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the support when in a folded position; i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the ends of a pair of braces, illustrating their connection with the stationary leg of the support; and g 'Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of 1.

Referring in detail to the present drawing there is shown a'pair of plates 10 in a substantiallyparallel mutual relation, for supportingtherebetween a lifting mechanism 35, actu able by handle 51,:for winding orunw-inding'cable 37 having at its free end hook 715 which maybe made to engage an object to belifted such as a bumper of a motor vehicle or the like. 'It is of course unders'tood'that the support herein described may support various lifting jack heads and not necessarily the type disclosed in my said parent or in thisapplication. r

The front lower corner of each-of said plates 10 is bent States Patent 0 "ice 2,7 90,615 Patented Apr. 30,1957

outwardly for defining leaf 11, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The head, including plates 10, is supported upon the upper end of tubular leg 12. If preferable, the upper end of said leg 12 may be flattened or squared on transverse cross section. A pair of bolts 13 is passed through said plates 10 and the upper end of said leg 12 interposed therebetween. The heads of said bolts 13 bearing against one plate 10 and nuts 'threadedly engaging theopposite ends of said bolts 13 will rigidly clamp the upperend of said leg 12 within said plates 10. Said upper end of leg 12 is preferably located adjacent the lower end of said plates 10 and in the proximity of the rear edges thereof. Said leg 12 remains in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said plates 10. l i

The lower end of said leg 12 is receivable within an oblong, U-shaped foot 14 which is in a hinged association with said leg 12 through'bolt and nut 15ipassed through the lateral portions of said foot 14- and said leg 12, as is clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. By virtue of the pivotal association of said foot 14 upon said leg 12, the former can be shifted either to an extended transverse relation or to a longitudinal inoperative relation when the support remains in a folded position.

The support further includes a pair of braces 16, each of which is made U-shaped on transverse cross section. Encircling leg'12is apair of rings 17 arranged in a stacked relation upon said leg 12. In a preferred form of the 'supportshown in Figs. 2 and 3 there is pin 18 passed through leg 12, in a spaced relation with foot 14, for supporting th'e lowermost ring '17 and for preventing both of said rings 17 from sliding in adownward direction past said pin 18. By'virtue of thisarra'ngement said rings 37 are capable only of upward sliding movement away from said pin 18.

Each 'of said rings 17 is made out of a single oblong stripof metallic material, with the body portion thereof encircling leg 12 and with theends thereof in a contacting relation and in a radial relative position with the body portion .of said ring 17 for the purpose of defining tongue 19. One of said tongues 19 is inserted within the end of one of said braces 16adjacent the uppere-dge thereof, while said tongue 19 ofthe remaining ring 17 is inserted within the end of the other of said braces 16 adjacent the lower edge thereof, as is best shown in Fig. 5. By virtue'of this arrangement the upper and lower edges of said braces 16 remain upon same c'orrespondin planes, notwithstanding the fact'that'rings 17 and tongues 19 are on difierent planes. Said tongues are in rigid relation with braces 16 by virtue of rivets Zii passed therethrough and the sides of said braces '16.

It is noted that the relative separated position of braces 1'6 and rings 17' never occurs in practice, because said rings 17 slide upon leg 12 while'in a mutual contact. The posit'ion o'f'the parts in Fig. S'is for illustration merely in order to show the juxtaposition of the two tongues 19 relativeto the edges in the pair of said braces 15.

Afiixedto the opposite end of each of said braces 16 is foot plate 22. Each plate 22 has a U-shaped lug '23 extending from one face thereof. Each lug 23 enters the channel defined by the U-shaped construction of'brace I6, and is there hingedby'and upon transversely extended bolt and nut 24. By virtue of this arrangement foot plates 22 are "angularly shiftable and adjustable uponthe adjacent ends of braces 16, in order that the same may [assume proper position with relation to the ground and rest thereon flat for properly supporting said braces 16 upon the ground, as best seen in Figs. 1 and .2, or-inorder that they may assume a longitudinal position with relation to said braces 16 when the support isin a folded position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig.2. a

*Piv'otally 'by'nreans of pivots 2'6 tothe laterally extending leaves 11 of plates are standards 25. Pivots 26 maintain standards in a rather loose association with leaves 11 and plates 10 in order that said standards 25 may not only shift angularly towards leg 12, but also away from or towards each other when thesupport is brought either to an open or folded position.

An additional bolt 27 is passed through each standard 25 so that leaf 11 of plate 10 may contact the same and be supported thereon when the standard is in an open position as is seen in Fig. 1. By virtue of this arrangement pivot 26 does not alone carry the weight of the load which is being lifted by the jack.

The sides of each standard 25, adjacent the lower end thereof are in an embracing relation with each brace 16, and intermediately of the two ends of the latter, and are pivoted thereon by means of bolts 28. Said bolts 28 in the two braces 16 also engage chain 29 which limits the outward shifting movement of said braces 16 and standards 25, as shown in Fig. 2.

The relative position of the several parts of the support when in an open position is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. To fold the several parts of the support, and bring the same to the position in dotted lines in Fig. 2, rings 17 are shifted upwardly upon leg 12. Due to the hinged connection between the adjacent ends of braces 16 with tongues 19 and pivots 20, said braces 16 are capable to shift in an upward direction by their ends nearest to said rings 17. The said shifting of braces 16 brings the latter to a vertical position and substantially in parallelism with leg 12. Due to the swivel connection of said braces 16 with leg 12 through rings 17 said braces are capable of shifting towards each other to a folded position.

As was already mentioned rivets 20, constituting pivots, permit said braces 16 to angularly swing upon said tongues 19 with the ultimate object of permitting said braces 16 to practically bodily contact with leg 12 when the support is in a folded position.

The modified form of the support illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 contemplates providing each brace 16 with hinge 30 at a point median of rivet 20 and bolt 28, so that when the support is folded each brace 16 breaks upon hinge 30 and the two ends of each brace 16 fold upon each other, as is clearly seen in Fig. 4. This modified form of the support does not require rings 17 to shift upon leg 12 in a longitudinal direction therewith. For this reason a pair of pins 31 are passed through said leg 12 and in a contactual relationship with the outer edges of the two rings 17. Said pins 31 define stops preventing said rings 17 from shifting in either direction upon leg 12, without interference however with the movement of said rings 17 on horizontal plane in order to bring braces 16 either towards each other when the support is folded or away from each other when the support is in an open operative position.

When the support is in a folded position said standards 25 angularly shift upon pivots 26 and in a substantial parallelism with leg 12, in either form of the invention.

It is noted that both said braces 16 and standards 25 are made preferably U-shaped on transverse cross section. This construction of said braces and standards renders the same sturdy and adds to the economy of material.

It is further observed that standards 25 are wider on transverse cross section than braces 16 are, so that in either form of the invention braces 16 at least partially may enter within the body of said standards 25, asis clearly seen in Fig. 4.

It is further observed that the greatest load during the jack-lifting operation is carried by said standards 25. This load is distributed to braces 16, part of the load being transferred to leg 12 due to the connection of said braces 16 with said leg 12 through rings 17, and part of the load being transferred to the front free ends of braces 16 and plates 22. By virtue of the fact that the front free ends of braces 16 are extended well forwardly and at a substantial distance from a perpendicular line running through the center of gravity of the jack as it lifts, the support is rendered quite stable and without danger of the jack including its support being overturned during the lifting operation. Since said braces 16 and standards 25 are spread in a lateral direction when the support is in an open operative position, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the support is quite stable also laterally.

It is noted that in an operative position of the support the lower ends of standards 25 are nearer to the free ends of braces 16 than they are to rings 17. This arrangement permits greater amount of load to be supported by said free ends of braces 16 and their respective plates 22 than by said leg 12.

It is further observed that pin 18 or the lower pin 31 support rings 17 in a spaced relation with the free lower end of leg 12. This arrangement permits braces 16 to be in an angular relation relative to the ground, and of course this latter fact requires standards 25 to be shorter than said leg 12.

Referring to 'Figs. 1 and 4 it is noted that hinge 30 is at a point median of pivot 20 and bolt 28, thereby permitting the two sections of each brace 16 to break at the point of each hinge 30 in order that the two of said sections of each brace 16 may fold when the support has been brought to a folded position seen in Fig. 4.

Although leg 12 is shown as being stationary with the lifting jack head due to the engagement thereof with the head by bolts 13, it may readily be visualized that said leg 12 may be in a pivotal relation with the head. In such event standards 25 would necessarily have to be in a stationary relation with the head so that when the support is brought to a folded condition said leg 12 may be shifted towards said standards 25 instead of said standards 25 shifting towards said leg 12 in order to bring the support to a folded position. Another modification may readily be envisaged wherein both leg 12 and standards 25 may be in a pivotal relation with the jack head, in order to facilitate speedy folding of the support when in an inoperative condition, with said leg 12 rendered stationary only at the time when the support is about to be used. A simple expedient such as a pin extending through plates 10 and leg 12, below the pivot point in leg 12, would lock leg 12 to the jack head in order to maintain said leg 12 in a rigid relation with the head when jack and its support are about to be used.

While there are described herein preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a lifting jack including a head, a support comprising a leg in a rigid engagement by one of its ends with said head, a brace including a pair of sections, a pivotal connection between said leg and one end of one of said brace sections, a standard, said standard being pivoted by one of its ends to said head, the opposite end of said standard being in a pivotal engagement with the other of said sections at a point intermediate of the ends of the latter, and a hinge connecting the adjacent ends of said sections, said hinge being at a point median of said pivotal connection and said standard, during the open operative position of the support said sections being in a longitudinally extended position, during the folding of the support to the inoperative position thereof said sections being adapted to fold upon said hinge and to assume a substantially parallel position with said leg and said standard.

2. In a lifting jack including a head, a support capable of selectively assuming an open operative position or a folded inoperative position comprising a leg in a rigid engagement by one of its ends with said head, a pair of rings encompassing said leg and being slidable and rotatable thereon, a pair of braces, each of said braces having one of its ends pivotally connected with one of said rings, and a pair of standards, each of said standards being in a pivotal engagement by one of its ends with said head, the opposite end of each of said standards being in a pivotal engagement with one of said braces at a point intermediate of the ends of the latter, in an operative open position of the support said braces being in an angular spread position with their apex adjacent said leg, in order to reach a folded inoperative position said rings being adapted for longitudinal and transverse shift-ing relative to said leg for bringing said braces and said standards into a mutual contacting position and substantially in parallelism with said leg.

3. In a lifting jack including a head, a support capable of selectively assuming an open operative position or a folded inoperative position comprising a leg in a rigid engagement by one of its ends with said head, a pair of rings encompassing said leg and being slidable and rotatable thereon, a pair of braces, each of said braces having one of its ends pivotally connected with one of said 7 rings, a stop upon said leg in a spaced relation with the opposite free end thereof, said stop constituting a rest for said rings during the operative open position of the support, and a pair of standards, each of said standards being in a pivotal engagement by one of its ends with said head, the opposite end of each of said standards being in a pivotal engagement with one of said braces at a point intermediate of the ends of the latter, in an open operative position of the support said braces being in an angular spread position with their apex adjacent said leg and with said rings resting upon said stop, in order to reach a folded inoperative position said rings being adapted for a longitudinal shifting movement upon said leg and away from said stop for bringing sai'd braces and said standards into a substantially contacting mutual position and substantially in parallelism with said leg.

4. In a lifting jack including a head, a support capable of selectively assuming an open operative position or a folded inoperative position comprising a leg in a rigid en gagement by one of its ends with said head, a pair of braces, each of said braces including a pair of sections, a pair of swivel members mounted upon said leg, one section in each of said braces being pivotally connected to one of said swivel members, a pair of standards, said standards being pivoted by one of their ends to said head, the opposite end of each of said standards being in a pivotal engagement with the other of said sections of each of said braces at a point intermediate of the ends of the latter, and a hinge connecting the adjacent ends of the pair of sections in each of said braces, said hinge in each of said braces being at a point median of each of each swivel members and said opposite end of each of said standards, during the open operative position of the support the pairs of said sections in each of said braces being in a longitudinally extended position, during the folding of the support to the inoperative position thereof the pair of said sections in each of said braces being adapted to fold upon their respective hinge and to assume a substantially parallel position with said leg and said standards.

5. In a lifting jack including a head, a support comprising a leg, a standard, means including a pivot connecting said head to the upper end portions of said leg and said standard so as to permit relative movement between said leg and said standard from a folded inoperative position to an operative position, a brace, means connecting an end portion of said brace to said leg for longitudinal movement and angular movement in a substantially vertical plane relative to said leg when the support is folded, and means for supporting said end portion of said brace on said leg at a position above the lower end of said leg, the lower end portion of said standard being pivotally connected to and supported by said brace intermediate the ends of said brace.

6. In a lifting jack including a head, a support comprising a leg, a standard, said head being in rigid engagement with and supported by the upper end portion of said leg and being in pivotal engagement with and supported by the upper end portion of said standard, a brace, the lower end portion of said standard being pivotally connected to and supported by said brace intermediate the ends of said brace, a ring pivotally connected to an end portion of said brace and being mounted upon said leg for longitudinal shifting movement, and a stop upon said leg in spaced relation to the lower end thereof, said stop constituting a rest for said ring during the operative open position of the support, said ring being adapted to shift upon said leg away from said stop for bringing said brace into a substantially longitudinally contacting position with said leg, and for carrying said standard substantially in parallelism with said leg for bringing the support to its inoperative folded position.

7. In a lifting jack including a head, a support comprising a leg, a standard shorter than said leg, said head being in rigid engagement with and supported by the upper end portion of said leg and being in pivotal engagement with and supported by the upper end portion of said standard, a brace, the lower end portion of said standard being pivotally connected to and supported by said brace intermediate the ends of said brace, a ring pivotally con nected to an end portion of said brace and being mounted upon said leg for longitudinal shifting movement, and a stop upon said leg in spaced relation to the lower end thereof, said stop constituting a rest for said ring during the operative open position of the support, said ring being adapted to shift upon said leg away from said stop for bringing said brace into a substantially longitudinally contacting position with said leg, and for carrying said standard substantially in parallelism with said leg for bringing the support to its inoperative folded position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 624,662 Leedy May 9, 1899 649,300 Hall et al. May 8, 1900 1,419,616 Coughlin June 13, 1922 2,361,690 Hunz Oct. 31, 1944 2,598,753 Bolsey June 3, 1952 2,630,296 Lucker Mar. 3, 1953 

